Series – With A Kick

A new and enticing ice cream franchise, with a unique blend of full flavour, mischief and romance. Patrick and Lee are struggling to make a success of their alcoholic ice cream shop in the centre of tourist London. At the same time, their business partnership may take a turn towards the personal – if either of them can find the time and nerve to go for it! Meanwhile, they cater to the wild and wonderful range of customers in the area, many of whom have their own romantic agenda. Will ice cream be the final ingredient they’re all looking for?

A joint-authored project with Sue Brown, this series of romantic novellas launched August 2014 – and is still ongoing!

Each story will have a self-contained romance, but will follow the history of the shop throughout.

Click on the individual titles below for details, an excerpt and all BUY links.
These books are all between 25,000 to 50,000 words and available in both e-book and (some) in print.

Eduardo Mancini is going to be a star of the London stage and screen. Or that was the plan. His alter ego Eddy March hasn’t got further than the chorus and a bit part in a TV series. His parents aren’t supportive, his agent can’t place his particular skills, and he’s finding it hard to hang onto his young dreams. Things go from bad to worse when he’s late for an important audition, hasn’t got enough to money to pay the taxi fare, and is chased across the streets of Soho by the irate driver.

Eddy reaches what he believes is sanctuary – “With A Kick”, a store where ice creams are blended with alcohol and imagination, and where his friends can help him. But Nuri the taxi driver is persistent in his steady pursuit….

HISSED AS A NEWT – With A Kick #2

Published by Sue Brown books.
Available at Amazon and all other ebook outlets.

A drunk clown rolling around in the gutter is not what David Wright expects to find as he walks to With A Kick, his favourite ice-cream shop. David has had a lousy day. A literary agent has crushed his dreams and all he wants is the consolation of alcoholic ice-cream. He’s about to walk away when he finds the clown has been dumped by his boyfriend. On a whim, David takes the clown into With A Kick before he gets arrested….

Bryan Harrison is a successful accountant and a man who admires order and self-discipline. It’s a startling break from his routine when he literally bumps into Phiz Bussman outside With A Kick. Phiz’s lifestyle and behaviour are in complete contrast to Bryan’s, and appear totally chaotic. But they each recognise something in the other that they need.

Bryan’s cool facade hides loneliness: he believes he’ll never find a lover who accepts and welcomes his secret desire. Whereas Phiz craves someone who will help him bring purpose and focus into his life, and admits freely he needs a firm hand – in every way….

BELLS AND BALLS – With A Kick #4

Published by Sue Brown books.
Available at Amazon and all other ebook outlets.

Rob Barker had plans for his weekend and they didn’t involve struggling through the pre-Christmas crowds with the five-year-old niece he barely knows. Left with no choice, he grudgingly takes Pearl to see the sights of London, but instead of following the list his sister-in-law gives him, Rob takes her to With A Kick, an ice-cream shop with a difference – and meets a Santa who’s very familiar to Rob under that beard….

Everyone knows Curtis Wilson around the Soho business scene: a hard-working, budding young entrepreneur, who can get you supplies of whatever you need, and always with a joke and a laugh. Only Curtis knows that’s a purely public persona. Secretly, he’s still licking his wounds after being beaten up by his ex-lover, and he’s not about to let his guard down again. Until he meets handsome Riley Richmond was born to be a cowboy, but now stranded this side of the Atlantic, an anachronism in the bustling capital, and without financial capital – but still willing to stand up for Curtis against a homophobic bully….

An amusing, romantic and magical Christmas short story featuring Nuri and Eddy from A Twist and Two Balls

Nuri’s expecting a quiet Christmas, driving his cab, doing some studying, enjoying good food and drink – and devoting some serious loving to boyfriend Eduardo. But what with Eddy’s distress over his new role at the local comedy club, interference in their love life from Nuri’s irrepressible brothers, a disturbing number of costumed Santas on the street, and then the portly, bearded man dressed in red, in need of an urgent cab ride…It doesn’t look like things will be that quiet after all!

A Valentines Day short story featuring Bryan and Phiz from Slap and Tickle.

Phiz can’t always control his hyperactivity and propensity for chaos. But he no longer has to feel marginalised because of it, not now he has Bryan for a friend and lover. Bryan’s calm, ordered attitude is the perfect foil for Phiz: and Bryan’s private desire for kink is just what Phiz needs to keep him grounded. This Valentine’s Day, Phiz wants to give Bryan a special gift….

A sudden disaster strikes everyone’s favourite ice cream shop, With A Kick. Not only does it threaten the livelihood of its owner, Patrick, but also his loyal assistant Lee. Patrick’s been falling in love with Lee since the day Lee invited himself into the shop’s business and Patrick’s life. But familiar and deeply-held insecurities hold Patrick back – he’s too gruff for Lee, too old, and his labour-of-love business is never going to make him rich.
The disaster at the shop brings them a whole new opportunity to work – and love – together to make a go of things – with the help of all their With A Kick friends!

Karel Novak is content with his busy job in hotel refurbishment, enjoying the social scene in Soho, London and the company of new friends he met through working at With A Kick. All he’s missing is a special man in his life. Or maybe two.

His first meeting with the mercurial pole dancer Leroy and his socially anxious partner Griff isn’t impressive, but none of them can ignore the sexual spark that flares between the three men.

Their relationship builds in steps of passion, frustration, and finally love. Both Leroy and Griff have complex issues in their lives to work through, and at first Karel brings a new dynamic that both settles and supports them.

But although he loves his men, Karel gradually realises the issues are still present. His partners struggle with living individually as well as together. His heartfelt wish is for them to create a lasting bond as a trio—but that means putting others first, all too often.